Snow removal device and method of snow removal

Abstract

An improved hand operated snow removal device is disclosed. The device can be used to quickly remove snow to form a plurality of cleared parallel pathways by pushing the device through the snow and then pulling the device through the snow to clear away any windrows left by the formation of the cleared paths. The device includes a “V” shaped plough having an apex and a pair of plough blades extending away from the apex, the plough blades each having a lower edge. A shovel blade is mounted between the plough blades, the shovel blade having a lower edge, the lower edge of the shovel blade and the lower edges of the plough blades being substantially coplanar. The shovel blade has a first side oriented away from the apex. The device also includes a handle for grasping the device and pushing and pulling it through the snow.

1 . A hand operated snow removal device comprising: 
 a) a V shaped plough having an apex and a pair of plough blades extending away from the apex, the plough blades each having a lower edge;    b) a shovel blade mounted between the plough blades, the shovel blade having a lower edge, the lower edge of the shovel blade and the lower edges of the plough blades being substantially coplanar, the shovel blade having a first side oriented away from the apex, and    c) a handle.    
   
   
       2 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 1  wherein the shovel blade has opposite first and second ends, the first end mounted to one of the plough blades and the second end being mounted to the other plough blade.  
   
   
       3 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 2  wherein the shovel blade and the plough blades form a triangular structure.  
   
   
       4 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 1  wherein the plough blades each have opposite first and second sides, the first sides of the plough blades being concave, the concave sides of the blades being oriented forward towards the apex, the shovel blade being positioned opposite the concave sides of the plough blades behind the apex.  
   
   
       5 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 1  wherein the first side of the shovel blade is concave.  
   
   
       6 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 4  wherein the first side of the shovel blade is concave.  
   
   
       7 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 1  wherein the handle extends away from the apex beyond the shovel blade.  
   
   
       8 . The hand operated snow removal device of  claim 1  wherein the plough blades each have an upper edge and a height between the upper and lower edges of the plough blades and wherein the shovel blade has an upper edge and a height between the upper and lower edge of the shovel blade, the height of the shovel blade being less than the height of the plough blades.  
   
   
       9 . The hand operated snow removal device of claim wherein the plough blades and the shovel blade form a chamber immediately behind the apex.  
   
   
       10 . A method of removing snow from a surface using the device as defined in  claim 1  comprising the steps of: 
 a) clearing a first path through the snow by pushing the snow plough through the snow by hand with the apex of the plough oriented towards the snow, the snow cleared by the plough in clearing the first path forming a windrow on either side of the first path,    b) clearing a subsequent path through the snow parallel and adjacent to the first path by pushing the snow plough through the snow by hand with the apex of the plough oriented towards the snow, the snow cleared by the plough in clearing the subsequent path forming a subsequent windrow positioned between the first path and the second path,    c) clearing the subsequent windrow between the first and subsequent paths by dragging the snow plough through the windrow with the shovel blade oriented towards the windrow.